Why are Catholics so immoral?

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So, I’m Agnostic, but I am a moral person. I even believe in saving sex for marriage, which me and my wife have done. I have noticed that many Protestants also do this. Obviously not all, but quite a lot. Catholics, however, don’t seem to as often. I actually spoke with a few who were heavily involved in their church. I asked, “Why do so many Catholics have premarital sex?” And I always got the same answer. “Well”, they said, “sexual sin is some of the hardest to overcome, and that’s why so many people fall victim to it”. I never got a straight answer to my question.

On a side note, I have also noticed that many Catholics don’t even know anything about the Bible or their religion. While almost every Protestant I meet knows a lot about the Bible. Kind of weird. Oh, and FYI, I’m not trying to generalize. Obviously not EVERY Catholic is immoral or has premarital sex, it just seems like a lot do, at least compared to Protestants. Also, I’m not trying to say that people who save it for marriage are above anyone else. Even though I saved it, I have done other stuff that was really wrong. I used to be a thief. Even now I struggle with the temptation to steal.
 
As a general rule, I suspect the sexual sins are dang near the same between Protestants and Catholics. As to the answer you got, it seems rather honest to me.

Biblical knowledge: The idea that Protestants know more than Catholics is common, but way overstated. Protestants are taught as kids to memorize a lot of individual verses that they seem key, so on first blush it seems clear. However, for Catholics who go regularly to mass, they actually learn a lot of the bible, a surprising amount if it is covered in the cycle of readings. They know the stories, the parables, etc; but most times could not tell you what book they are from. But for mass attending catholics, there is quite a bit of knowledge under the surface.
 
“Well”, they said, “sexual sin is some of the hardest to overcome, and that’s why so many people fall victim to it”. I never got a straight answer to my question.
That’s… not a straight answer? What would be a straight answer then?
Obviously not EVERY Catholic is immoral or has premarital sex, it just seems like a lot do, at least compared to Protestants.
I doubt that.
Also, I’m not trying to say that people who save it for marriage are above anyone else. Even though I saved it, I have done other stuff that was really wrong. I used to be a thief. Even now I struggle with the temptation to steal.
Okay so you lead off with basically “Why is X group so terrible and Y group so good… and also I’m Z and I’m great too.” Very tempting to retort “Why not just ask, ‘why am I so great and you all suck?’” but this last line interests me. So you used to be a thief. And you struggle with temptation to steal. But sexual urges do not cause you great temptation…

Well I don’t have the urge to steal at all. I don’t consider myself a super-honest guy, but stealing has no appeal to me. And given that I’m a victim of grand theft auto, I’m even less inclined to steal because I know how much it sucks to have something valuable stolen.

On the other hand, I do have sexual temptations. Despite being married, I’ve got a lifelong struggle on my hands with pornography and masturbation. Why? Probably because I’ve been self-medicating anxiety with it since I was in my early teens, my dad is a sex addict, all kinds of fun stuff.

Anyway, lots of focus on sex, sex, sex. Fascinating. Certainly we’re oversexed in this culture and too many people are ignoring teaching on sexuality. On the other hand, there are numerous Evangelicals who embrace the Prosperity Gospel of Joel Osteen and I find that to be probably the most repugnant thing out there. PRAY AND JESUS WILL GIVE YOU STUFF. Why are Protestants so into STUFF when Christ told us not to be attached to things to this world? WHY DO THEY HATE JESUS SO MUCH?

And yes, those last couple of sentences had humorous intent.
 
Why are Atheists so Immoral?
Why are Agnostics so Immoral?
Why are Jews so Immoral?
… … … …

There are many moral people in the World.
No religion OWNS its people’s minds.
If a particular Catholic wants to perform Immoral acts, then he will do those immoral acts.
If a Protestant wants to perform Immoral acts, then he will do those immoral acts.

So, I would suggest that you talk to (say) 500 Catholics.
Having a wider base of Catholics will show you that a few Catholics (at least), don’t perform sexual acts of perversion, or Fornicate, before they got Married.

Don’t you know that different Catholics are moral … and other Catholics are NOT moral?

As far as Catholics NOT knowing much about the Bible, if a Catholic attends Mass (and stays awake during the Readings and the Homily), that person will learn something about the Bible, and how it matters to Lives in the 21st century.

I have read through the entire Bible several times (and I’ve read the Gospels 100s of times).
I am NOT the only Catholic who has read the Bible, and studied it, looking for Spiritual answers to Life.

So, why don’t you start reading the Bible.
It may help you see something exciting about Christianity (or, maybe NOT).

Knowing what the Bible says is of little moment to an average Christian.
The MAIN thing to KNOW is :
Jesus loves me.
Jesus wants me to live a “Good” Life.
If I live a Life as a devout Christian, I will end up in Heaven one of these Days.
 
Seems a gross generalization to me.

Everyone can find people of all stripes and denominations that fit your stereotype of being “immoral”, including a large portion of agnostics and atheists.

It’s a human condition, not a Catholic one.
 
That’s… not a straight answer? What would be a straight answer then?
A straight answer as to why more Catholics have premarital sex than Protestants.
I doubt that.
Doubt what? That not every Catholic has premarital sex?
If I live a Life as a devout Christian, I will end up in Heaven one of these Days.
Funny, I thought only God knew for sure who is going to Heaven and who is going to Hell.
 
I wouldn’t have any idea whether Catholics are actually (statistically) significantly different from other groups in most areas, but I think I get what you’re saying. And I think the fallen Catholic, so to speak, is maybe somewhat more noticeable because of the high standards the faith preaches. So the hypocrisy and/or mistakes are more readily apparent, especially if you’re looking for it. The Catholic Church is pretty vocal about what the standards of behaviour are, and then you find out that all the adherents are human. If that makes sense.

The one area where I do think it’s true is abortion. Studies seem to show that Catholics are slightly more likely to have an abortion than Protestants.
 
You can’t really go by what a few people you meet say.
It looks like Catholics and Protestants are pretty nearly tied as far as rates of premarital sex. Interestingly enough, Muslims have the lowest rates, but that’s not a religion I would want to subscribe to. There are a lot of factors involved – fear being one of them.
Maybe Catholics have more trust in God’s forgiveness?

Here are some data from the National Survey of Family Growth based one a question of whether respondents have ever had premarital sex. (posted in 2007)

Protestant
  • 65%, All Protestants
  • 74%, Non-active Protestants
  • 49%, Active Protestants
Black Protestant
  • 83%, All Black Protestants
  • 89%, Non-Active Black Protestants
  • 76%, Active Black Protestants
Catholic
  • 63%, All Catholics
  • 71%, Non-Active Catholics
  • 48%, Active Catholics
Other Religion
  • 58%, All Other Religion
  • 68%, Non-Active Other religion
  • 45%, Active Other Religion
 
A straight answer as to why more Catholics have premarital sex than Protestants.
This is your opinion based on, from what I can see, your limited acquaintance with some Protestants and some Catholics who happen to have or not have had premarital sex.

Your assertion of this as a fact does not actually make it a fact. This is a logical fallacy known as begging the question.
 
I said :** “If I live a Life as a devout Christian, I will end up in Heaven one of these Days.”**

To which the OP responded** : “Funny, I thought only God knew for sure who is going to Heaven and who is going to Hell.”**

Well, see, that shows how little you know (as of yet).

Since every Protestant sect (and every Catholic sect) in the World claims that if a person lives his Life a certain way that he will go to Heaven (at least eventually), then a Follower of that religion can say (with as much certainty as possible) :** “If I follow the Way of Jesus Christ, and follow His teachings, then I will be allowed to go to Heaven.”**

I mean, you are making Jest of THE reason most people want to become a Christian in general (or a Catholic).
You either BUY the concept … or, you don’t.
Free Will is a part of every Human Being.
So, either exercise yours to become a Christian … or DON’T.
God allows you to live whatever moral (or immoral) Life you wish to Live.
 
Not cool man. You’re gonna take experiences from a few individuals and then judge the majority of Catholics by it? I’m sorry, but that’s as dumb as when Christians say that all Atheists choose not to believe in God so they can live without morals. Long story short, there’s good and bad everywhere. You’re just choosing to zero in on the bad of the Catholics.
 
Well, this is a kind of pointless thing to talk about. Data regarding premarital sex and religious affiliation is very hard to come by. Secular social scientists don’t like studying sexual behavior because it relies on self-report surveys, which can be tricky enough to ensure are accurate, but with sex, the motivation to lie is so much higher. When it comes to sex, there are a million reasons why that data would be skewed, especially in regards to religion. (Protestants in certain areas of the country may be far less likely to admit to sex, or something like that. A lot of things could affect that data.) When it comes to religiously driven social science, it’s even more unreliable and scarce, because they just don’t get the funding that a lot of major research centers and universities get. So just assuming that one group has more premarital sex than the other is dangerous.

It’s far easier to measure attitudes towards premarital sex. This is a link to a blog in which a Catholic priest explains the results of a study conducted at Georgetown about attitudes towards premarital sex. It shows that Catholics are a little more permissive, and the priest tries to explain why.

blog.adw.org/2010/10/pondering-permissiveness-and-attitude-toward-pre-marital-sex-in-the-church-what-the-data-shows/
 
So, I’m Agnostic, but I am a moral person. I even believe in saving sex for marriage, which me and my wife have done. I have noticed that many Protestants also do this. Obviously not all, but quite a lot. Catholics, however, don’t seem to as often. I actually spoke with a few who were heavily involved in their church. I asked, “Why do so many Catholics have premarital sex?” And I always got the same answer. “Well”, they said, “sexual sin is some of the hardest to overcome, and that’s why so many people fall victim to it”. I never got a straight answer to my question.

On a side note, I have also noticed that many Catholics don’t even know anything about the Bible or their religion. While almost every Protestant I meet knows a lot about the Bible. Kind of weird. Oh, and FYI, I’m not trying to generalize. Obviously not EVERY Catholic is immoral or has premarital sex, it just seems like a lot do, at least compared to Protestants. Also, I’m not trying to say that people who save it for marriage are above anyone else. Even though I saved it, I have done other stuff that was really wrong. I used to be a thief. Even now I struggle with the temptation to steal.
We use the front door to the liquor store also, rather then the rear door. 👍
 
So, I’m Agnostic, but I am a moral person. I even believe in saving sex for marriage, which me and my wife have done. I have noticed that many Protestants also do this. Obviously not all, but quite a lot. Catholics, however, don’t seem to as often. I actually spoke with a few who were heavily involved in their church. I asked, “Why do so many Catholics have premarital sex?” And I always got the same answer. “Well”, they said, “sexual sin is some of the hardest to overcome, and that’s why so many people fall victim to it”. I never got a straight answer to my question.

.
Maybe the Catholics are just more honest with you than the Protestants or other christians?
 
Well, it seems that you got your answer to your question. 🙂 It is one of the hardest to overcome, but perhaps you’re only thinking Catholics seem more immoral than others because for some reason, you’re focusing on the Catholics and neglecting to see the others who are committing the same sins. Catholics are not perfect, and none claim to be. But if I were to focus my attention on a few, say, Baptists who are sinning all the time, I could ask the same type of question: “Why are Baptists so immoral?” All in perspective.

Now, having said that, a good deal of Protestants that I know also claim they “know” the Bible completely because they have read it front to back over and over again. I hate to say it, but that does not make on an expert if you read it without understanding. And let’s face it - most Protestants form their own interpretations of the Bible. This is why there are so many denominations of Pentecostal churches.
 
So, I’m Agnostic, but I am a moral person. I even believe in saving sex for marriage, which me and my wife have done. I have noticed that many Protestants also do this. Obviously not all, but quite a lot. Catholics, however, don’t seem to as often. I actually spoke with a few who were heavily involved in their church. I asked, “Why do so many Catholics have premarital sex?” And I always got the same answer. “Well”, they said, “sexual sin is some of the hardest to overcome, and that’s why so many people fall victim to it”. I never got a straight answer to my question.

On a side note, I have also noticed that many Catholics don’t even know anything about the Bible or their religion. While almost every Protestant I meet knows a lot about the Bible. Kind of weird. Oh, and FYI, I’m not trying to generalize. Obviously not EVERY Catholic is immoral or has premarital sex, it just seems like a lot do, at least compared to Protestants. Also, I’m not trying to say that people who save it for marriage are above anyone else. Even though I saved it, I have done other stuff that was really wrong. I used to be a thief. Even now I struggle with the temptation to steal.
It happened over a 40 year period. It was planned. It was coordinated. Catholics, and everyone else, were gradually deceived. Our desire to welcome the stranger, our trust, was abused. The process has been described as we were like frogs in pots of cool water and comfortable, but the heat of temptation was gradually increased. We were lied to, on multiple occasions. But it was such a slow process, that many of us don’t know how it worked or why.

1960 The FDA approves The Pill for sale by prescription. It is a product to encourage sexual activity, but we were told otherwise.

1966 The anti-family, pro-contraception, pro-abortion, National Organization for Women is founded. Just go to now.org to see what they are up to today.

1967 A false “freedom” is marketing as a cover story in Time magazine. Note the headline - Contraception: Freedom from Fear. Fear of what? Babies. Babies, those bundles of joy, those gifts from God, are now to be feared.

content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843551,00.html

1967 Some Catholic institutions of higher learning decide to break ties with Church authority because they want more “freedom.” Who convinced them? They would gradually become like their secular counterparts.

catholichistory.net/Events/LandOLakesStatement.htm

1968 Those who want sex, married or not, start the ‘sex without love revolution’ because they want all of us to believe that sex is primarily about pleasure, not love. Marriage is just a piece of paper and they want to normalize sex with anyone.

Pope Paul VI realizes this and warns of the consequences if sensible Church teaching about marriage, children and against artificial birth control are not heeded.

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

So what is the reaction from dissidents inside the Church? Read the following carefully:

"Within 24 hours, in an event unprecedented in the history of the Church, more than 200 dissenting theologians signed a full-page ad in The New York Times in protest. Not only did they declare their disagreement with encyclical’s teaching; they went one step further, far beyond their authority as theologians, and actually encouraged dissent among the lay faithful.

"They asserted the following: “Therefore, as Roman Catholic theologians, conscious of our duty and our limitations, we conclude that spouses may responsibly decide according to their conscience that artificial contraception in some circumstances is permissible and indeed necessary to preserve and foster the values and sacredness of marriage.”

1970s Millions of dollars are spent on prostitutes, photographers, printers, filmmakers and distributors, not to mention leasing, renting and buying buildings. Why? To create addictions. To take what is private and intimate and to put it on public display and sale. I mean the worst you could do legally in 1968 was buy Playboy which only had photos of nude and partly nude women. The goal was to get mostly men addicted to graphic, gynecological sex. To tell us it was legal. That it was OK. The new opium dens dens were called Adult Bookstores, Strip Clubs and Topless Bars. It pained me to see the first one in my area but they had opened everywhere. Sexual immorality was being heavily marketed.

Then the Women’s Liberation Movement began to divide the sexes, to encourage women to not be housewives and to tell them that men were the enemy - all men, including the Church’s leadership. Feminist icon, Gloria Steinem, wrote: “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” So she co-founded the divisive Ms. magazine. Yes, that’s where that word comes from. Relationships? Why bother? You know that man will kick you to the curb and leave you with kids. Women should be in charge. They, not men get to decide when to have sex.

1973 My country, which, prior to this, respected and reflected Christian principles, stabs the most defenseless to death by legalizing abortion. This was not by the will of the people but through the Supreme Court.

Also, due to pressure from outside radical gay activists and closeted gays in the American Psychiatric Association, a vote was taken, and homosexuality became no longer a disorder. Years of research were thrown out - disregarded.

amazon.com/Homosexuality-American-Psychiatry-Politics-Diagnosis/dp/0691028370
 
Meanwhile, dissidents inside the Church were making sure that Catholics would get a distorted picture of their faith.

online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704586504574654282563939764

Thanks to the deception, fear and confusion caused by radical feminists, fertile ground is laid for No-Fault Divorce in the 1980s. Was this done by the will of the people? No.

Families torn apart, relationships and communities wrecked. And the media very gradually kept adding more skin and more sexual situations, plus more dysfunctionality to everything - even cartoons. It took years to get from there to here.

Peace,
Ed
 
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